Generosity comes from many corners to fund all 20 homes of Anniversary Build in Peru
UPDATE: In this video produced after this story was originally published, 20th Anniversary Build house sponsors who also had the opportunity to volunteer at the Peru build talk about their unique experience.
When Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta President Mark Murphy sold a long-time rental property for more than $400,000 this past January in Marietta, Georgia, it didn’t exactly bolster his personal bank account. Nor did it enhance the ledgers of real estate agents Jackie Goodman and Lee Fuller, who took no commission for their work.
It was all about helping others have simple, decent places to live — in the Atlanta area … and in Peru.
(Read more about Mark Murphy’s generous gift here.)
Most of the proceeds are going toward The Fuller Center of Greater Atlanta’s 100-home initiative and their work of making repairs to help local homeowners stay in the homes they love. But a significant portion went toward the purchase of land in La Florida, Peru, where The Fuller Center has embarked upon building a second community in the village — starting with 20 homes that will be dedicated in November during The Fuller Center for Housing’s 20th Anniversary Build.
With more than two months to go before the November 1-9 build, each of the 20 homes has now been fully funded, and all volunteer slots for the build have been filled — with other generous souls on a waiting list eager to join if one of the registered volunteers has a change of plans.
“I wanted to give back in more ways than just helping The Fuller Center of Greater Atlanta,” Murphy said. “I was excited about how far my money could stretch in a foreign country, so I came up with the idea of funding a village.”
He reached out to The Fuller Center’s Vice President of International Programs Ryan Iafigliola, who noted that while FCH operations in Peru had been tremendously successful, local leaders were struggling to purchase land for further construction to serve even more families. Murphy’s generosity not only paved the way for many more homes to be built in Peru, but it also set the stage for the 20th Anniversary Build.
“Giving is always rewarding but to give at this level creates a huge change in many families’ lives,” Murphy said. “I’ve been so fortunate and blessed in my life, and I view it as my obligation to share. I mean, my assets are really God’s, and I’m sure He’s looking to see how and if I use His assets to help others. I cannot wait to meet the families whose lives will be improved by this project.”
On top of those efforts, he also is sponsoring one of the homes. Today, all 20 homes have been sponsored. What makes this build and these home sponsorships unique, though, is how the generosity has come from so many different sources. We spoke with a few of them about why they are sponsoring homes.
This is not Bob Abel’s first time sponsoring a home for a major build in Peru. He sponsored one in 2012 in memory of his parents — Fred and Kathryn, who died just 68 days apart the previous year. He also volunteered to build that home, one of 10 that went up during the 2012 Millard Fuller Legacy Build.
“With great memories of the home sponsored in 2012 and the warm caring experience with the mother and her three children who would live there, I couldn’t wait to sponsor again,” Abel said. “Each time I see the photo of that home and family that hangs on my wall, I am warmed and encouraged by the memories.
“Considering that it was sponsored in memory of my parents made it a lasting tribute to their lives and a comfort for me,” he added. “I cannot think of anything more appropriate to have done in their memory.”
The Fuller Center for Housing encourages — but does not require — its covenant partners in the United States to tithe a portion of their undesignated funds to support international covenant partners who often struggle to raise funds for their efforts in poorer areas of the globe.
That includes places such as Madagascar, the island nation in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is a land rich in biodiversity and spirit, but it consistently ranks as one of the poorest countries on the planet. Yet, they have become one of The Fuller Center’s most productive builders — and they tithe themselves to help others. Those tithes include sponsoring one of the 20th Anniversary Build homes.
“In our case, we wanted to help fund the project in Peru because we feel the similarity of life from the story of people in Peru with the families in Madagascar,” country leader Manitra Rakotomalala said. “Secondly, we simply want to share our love with other families living in other countries.”
Fuller Center President David Snell gets a jolt of joy when he sees covenant partners share their love and generosity with each other through tithing.
“Here’s a little story straight out of the Bible,” Snell said. “The Fuller Center in Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries, has given a tithe to help sponsor a house in the 20th Anniversary Build in Peru. This is the story of the widow’s mite come true.”
The Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders have been busy helping families recover from natural disasters since Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago. They’ve been especially busy in Kentucky since the December 2021 tornado outbreak, but their main focus over the past year has been helping families in western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding in that area.
While the Disaster ReBuilders’ work takes place in the United States, President Bart Tucker still feels the connection with The Fuller Center’s worldwide movement. That’s one of the reasons the Disaster ReBuilders chose to sponsor one of the 20th Anniversary homes.
“Our founder, Millard Fuller, reframed the idea of housing as a matter of justice — Christians volunteering to provide safe and secure homes for their neighbors in need,” Tucker said. “And our passion is not one of boundaries, but of global solidarity. We’re honored to be part of a 20-house build in Peru, to show the flame is burning brightly there.”
It always has been important to The Fuller Center’s international work to have partners in the United States support their international counterparts. That’s something that partners such as The Fuller Center for Housing of Utah County believe is truly important, and they leaped at the opportunity to sponsor one of the homes.
“At the Fuller Center for Housing of Utah County, we know the power a safe home has to transform a family’s future,” FCH Utah County President Todd Baxter said. “Helping fund a home in Peru through our tithes is a way for us to extend that same hope beyond our own community, partnering with others to show that love and generosity have no borders.”
In fact, another of the homes is being sponsored by U.S. covenant partners as a group. Fuller Center Vice President of U.S. Programs Stacey Odom-Driggers notes that U.S. partners who tithe often are among the most productive and successful partners — and she does not believe that it is coincidence.
“Again and again, we’ve seen that the covenant partners who give faithfully are the ones who lead boldly, serve passionately, and stay most engaged in the work God has called us to,” she said. “We are deeply encouraged to see our national covenant partners unite to fund a home in Peru. This is a powerful reflection of the biblical call to tithe — giving back so that others may flourish. We believe that tithing to international work not only strengthens communities abroad, but also deepens our shared commitment to the mission.”
The People Helping People Network, based out of Indianapolis, was founded by Jeff Cardwell, who considered Fuller Center founder Millard Fuller a mentor and then a close friend. He is passionate about helping families have simple, decent places to live. In fact, he also serves as chairman of The Fuller Center’s board of directors.
PHP focuses on four main areas in the communities it serves — housing, hunger relief, healthcare and education — that HOPE Equation, as they call it, always starts with housing as the first component. They also are sponsoring one of the 20th Anniversary Build homes.
“We are deeply honored to serve as a house sponsor for the 20th Anniversary Build in Peru,” Cardwell said. “At the People Helping People Network, we have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that a safe, affordable home has on a family’s life. A home is more than just shelter — it’s the solid foundation where dignity is restored, hope is rekindled, and human potential is nurtured and allowed to flourish. We are grateful to stand with the Fuller Center for Housing in building brighter futures, one family at a time.”
Nick Roose fell in love with volunteering thanks to a little trip with his father. He volunteered last year in Peru though The Fuller Center’s Global Builders program on a trip led by his dad, Chris Roose. Nick came away impressed with the program, the country and its people. The Air Force veteran was eager to sponsor a 20th Anniversary home, along with his team at Proctor Electric Company in Cary, N.C.
“I was honored to be a part of a build in August 2024, where I was introduced to the beautiful country of Peru, and the amazing people of La Florida,” Roose said. “It is a privilege to be able to help, and I look forward to being on future builds.”
Diane Bies first became acquainted with The Fuller Center’s work by participating in the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure, which raises funds and awareness for the movement at home and abroad. Those Adventures include build days when cyclists hop off their bikes and help families build or repair homes.
Bies has since fallen in love with the Theology of the Hammer, and she regularly brings her enthusiasm and friendly smile to Fuller Center builds as a volunteer at Legacy Builds and other projects. Now, she is sponsoring an entire home in Peru.
“I have benefited so much from my time spent volunteering with the Fuller Center for Housing,” Bies said. “I am so excited about this 20th Anniversary celebration and build. I had hoped to be there for it but can’t manage the time away. So I chose to participate by raising funds for a home instead. It warms my heart to know a family will thrive because of this.”
Of course, no one knows more about the Bicycle Adventure’s connection to The Fuller Center’s work than Iafigliola, who founded the Adventure in 2008. He still helps organize the Adventures and still puts on that familiar orange jersey from time to time, but his primary responsibility is overseeing international operations — a job of literal global proportions.
His most recent Adventure ride was the first week of the recent West Coast ride from Seattle to San Diego. With the funds he raised on this year’s Adventure, he also is sponsoring one of the Peru homes.
“There’s nothing better than getting to see the impact firsthand, and I can’t wait to help build the home,” said Iafigliola, who will be working alongside the volunteers in November. “It was amazing to have so many people support my ride with this year’s Fuller Center Bike Adventure, and this is a great opportunity to show them exactly what it helps accomplish.”
The Fuller Center for Housing also would like to thank Jackie Goodman, Doug Miller, Hub & Joan Erickson, Pete & Cyrese Erickson, Mike Goodloe & Lee Zwanziger, Nick Roose, Bill & Carolyn Silzle, Laura Miehls, FCH International Partners, Diane & Dave Maidt, and Lanetti/Steege for their 20th Anniversary Build house sponsorships.
We'd love to hear your comments!